One that got away helps Dodgers beat Cubs

The Los Angeles Dodgers are putting the ex-Cub factor to the test this season, employing no fewer than six former Cubs in their pursuit of a World Series title.

There's a 25-year-old theory that no team can win a World Series with three or more ex-Cubs on its roster. The Dodgers not only are four ex-Cubs over the limit, they also are managed by former Cubs minor league roving instructor Grady Little and general manager Ned Colletti is a former Cubs public relations director.

Los Angeles leadoff man Rafael Furcal, the free agent whom the Cubs made their primary off-season target last winter, helped lead the first-place Dodgers to a 6-0 victory Wednesday before a half-empty Wrigley Field. Furcal homered, knocked out three hits and scored three runs as the Dodgers ended the Cubs' longest winning streak in almost a month at two games.

Furcal stunned the Cubs last winter when he signed a three-year, $39 million deal after shunning the team's final offer.

"I was almost here, very close," Furcal said. "Something didn't work out. You give me a better deal, and I'm not going to take any chance. Chicago is a good city, like L.A. too."

General manager Jim Hendry told fans at the Cubs Convention that Furcal's price tag was "absurd," arguing his average annual salary of $13 million was well over the $8 million per year salary of Jimmy Rollins, then the league's highest paid leadoff man.

The Dodgers aren't complaining about the absurdity of the deal. Furcal is hitting .298 and has scored 102 runs, joining Albert Pujols, Johnny Damon and Alex Rodriguez as the only major leaguers with 100 or more runs in each of the last four seasons.

Meanwhile, Angel Guzman became the first Cubs pitcher to go winless in his first 10 starts in a season, lasting only four innings while falling to 0-6. Guzman allowed five runs on eight hits and four walks. Over his last four starts, Guzman has a 12.39 earned-run average. Dodgers ace Brad Penny shut out the Cubs over seven innings, taking over the National League lead with his 16th victory.

The Cubs were shut out for the 14th time, most among NL teams. Garciaparra, who chipped in with a two-run single in the fourth, is enjoying his homecoming while sympathizing over the plight of the Cubs.

"It's not an easy place to hit, but what I really enjoyed was just playing here, the atmosphere," he said of his stay with the Cubs. "It's definitely tough for [the Cubs]. They're good people over there, good guys, and you don't want anybody to have to take anything like that, especially your friends. You just wish them the best."